Legal Action Center Ny

Legal Action Center Ny

Legal Action Center Ny

Posted on: December 09, 2011 - 8:51 pm
by Admin

Anyone reading their iPhone news apps while eating at McDonald's might have felt a little uncomfortable when NPR reported that McDonald's is facing a lawsuit over unfairly manipulating people to eat at their fast food restaurants. There is not a lawsuit yet, but there is a letter threatening a lawsuit. CSPI wants McDonald's to stop including toys in Happy Meals, and to stop using the toys as a road into the hearts of children.

Read the Letter Threatening to Sue McDonald's

The Center for Science in the Public Interest released a statement and a pdf download of the McDonald's lawsuit letter on June 22, 2010. In the demand letter, Litigation Director Stephen Gardner outlines several reasons why the legal action against McDonald's is being considered, including:

  • McDonald's markets to young children (under 8 years old)
  • McDonald's advertises toys as part of the meals
  • The meals are not healthy options; the letter gives the example of how many calories are in a Happy Meal. (640 calories are in a cheeseburger Happy Meal with french fries and a Sprite.

A footnote in the letter is interesting. Gardner writes that, "This demand is limited to toys and other premiums sold with Happy Meals, although we note that items for which consumers pay extra, like the since-recalled Shrek glasses, and the Mighty Meals aimed at older kids also contribute to the problem." (Letter from Stephen Gardner to Jim Skinner, June 22, 2010.) This footnote is likely due to the consumer protection laws aimed at young children.

It should be noted that McDonald's does have healthy eating options available for Happy Meals; kids can have water or milk instead of soda, and they can choose fruit instead of fries. Happy Meal toys can also be purchased without buying the meal.

Read the Statement Explaining Why CSPI Wants to Sue McDonald's

There is no gentle admonishments in the CSPI statement about McDonald's marketing techniques. The non-profit group has clearly done research into what kids need to be healthy and fit, and McDonald's is not part of the equation.

In the statement, Gardner compares McDonald's to child predators, saying, "McDonald’s is the stranger in the playground handing out candy to children. [Its] use of toys undercuts parental authority and exploits young children’s developmental immaturity...to induce children to prefer foods that may harm their health. It’s a creepy and predatory practice."